Q: I am building a house and want a fireplace, what kind should I buy?
A: There are many different types and styles of fireplaces that burn wood, gas and pellets. You must first decide what your goal for the fireplace will be and what type of fuel do you want to use. A fireplace can heat the whole home or just be a gathering place for family photos. After the ice storms of 2000 and 2007, most folks goal for their fireplace is to provide for a backup source of heat. There are many models in today’s market to choose from. I would suggest browsing some of the web-sites to gain some basic knowledge before coming into the store to look.
Q: Our builder installed a vent-free gas fireplace in our new home and it has an odor when we burn it. What can be done?
A: Vent-Free fireplaces are for short-term (4 hours a day max) use only. Since there is no vent, everything that is drawn into the fireplace is burned and sent back into the home. There is also a break-in period when the logs are burned for the first time in which there will be a stronger odor than in future burns.
Q: We are thinking of buying a pellet stove, what is your opinion on them?
A: Pellet stoves are great tools in the home heating arsenal. They can, however, be a real service nightmare. For that reason it is important that you buy a quality unit that has a dealer to back it. Many folks are lured into buying a cheap unit from a mass merchant only to find out when it breaks that it is going to be very costly or even impossible to fix. In 2007 we had several customers that came in and bought a new pellet stove to replace one they had bought at the mass merchants. The old saying of you get what you pay for is never so true when talking about Pellet stoves and inserts.
Q: I called another fireplace store in another city to get a price on a unit and they told us they would not sell it to us. What’s that all about?
A: Most manufacturers of quality fireplace products and stoves require that the dealer be responsible for the warranty issues if any arise. For that reason it is expected that dealers sell only to people who are in their service coverage area. If you do buy a stove over the internet or from a distance, you must expect that there will be no warranty service that goes with it. Unlike Autos for example, most dealers will not work on products they didn’t sell of if they do at a much higher rate.
Q: Will my insurance go up if I install a wood stove?
A: Most likely it will not if it is installed by a dealer who carries liability insurance. I would recommend checking with your insurance company to see what their requirements are.
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Q: Can I install a wood stove in my mobile home?
A: As long as the unit is “Mobile Home” approved with the ability to take outside air for the combustion process.